WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



elephant, had torn off part of her trunk. I went of course 

 immediately and found the end of her trunk lying in the 

 middle of the den. Scott and one of the other keepers 

 handed it to me at my request. It was warm and the 

 nerves and muscles were still quivering and in motion ; it 

 gave me a most painful shock. The poor beast appeared 

 in great distress and agony, whirling and elevating her 

 trunk and screaming ; she would not allow any one near 

 her. I ordered the tank in the house to be filled with 

 cold water, and a tarpaulin to be hung up in front of the 

 den. I was sadly afraid I should have to 'destroy the 

 poor creature and made the necessary preparation for an 

 emergency ; however, I found, after visiting her from time 

 to time, that the bleeding had stopped and that she had 

 availed herself of the cold water into which to thrust the 

 ragged end of the torn trunk. 



When the painful excitement had partially worn off 

 I weighed and measured the portion of the tom-off 

 trunk. In weight it was 2 lbs. 2 ozs., and on the longest 

 side measured 12 in. ; it however shrank considerably 

 when placed in a glass jar containing strong spirits of 

 wine. 



The constant and kind attention to the poor creature 

 by the keepers convinced me that she would not die for 

 want of food, as she allowed the men to put biscuits into 

 her mouth, and by placing the indiarubber hose to her 

 mouth she could take water. 



As the jagged end of the trunk had ceased bleeding, 

 and the animal had become quiet, I had great hopes of 

 saving her life. Of course it was quite impossible to say 

 what would happen. It might not heal, it might ulcerate 

 and decay and rot off, and then it would be necessary to 

 put an end to her sufferings. 



At all events, I considered that all the symptoms were 



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